Why You're Instructed To Put Oxygen Masks On Yourself First

You know the in-flight safety spiel so well that you could probably rattle off the instructions by memory. But have you ever wondered why flight attendants are so careful to hammer this information into our brain? And more importantly, what might happen if you didn't follow it to the letter?

You know the in-flight safety spiel so well that you could probably rattle off the instructions by memory. But have you ever wondered why flight attendants are so careful to hammer this information into our brain? And more importantly, what might happen if you didn't follow it to the letter?

YouTube channel SmarterEveryDay put this to the test. A new video, featured on Sploid, questions the logic behind that direction we're all used to hearing on every flight: "In the event of emergency, put your oxygen mask on first."

Thanks to NASA, researcher Destin was able to see for himself how vital it is to actually follow that instruction. The experience of being in a depressurized airplane cabin was replicated for his benefit (and/or terror), triggering hypoxia-like symptoms that left him weak, disoriented, and unable to help save himself. Passengers have just seconds to put on their oxygen masks before oxygen-saturation levels drop to a perilous point.

By helping others first, or ignoring the mask altogether, a person will begin to lose his or her ability to recognize faces and shapes, and eventually pass out. Hence, the flight-safety demo that reminds passengers over and over to take care of their own mask right away.

Need we explain? Tuna salad is one of the most distinctly awful foods to bring on a plane.

2

Chili

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We love chili as much as the next guy, but we don't need to smell it for four hours after somebody else eats it. Meaty or vegetarian, the spices can give off an overpowering aroma that will linger in the air and may ruin chili forever.

3

Clam Chowder

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You're joking right?

4

Egg Salad

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If you want the whole plane to smell like a rotting dumpster, by all means! Enjoy your egg salad.

5

Yogurt

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This is a tough one, but the smell of yogurt can be nauseating if you're not the one eating it. Do us all a favor and eat it before you get on the plane.

6

Onion Rings

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This may seem like an unlikely contender, but if you've ever smelled the intense odor of deep-fried, breaded onion on a plane before, we think you'll agree with us.

7

Hot Dog

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That's just rude.

8

Ranch Dressing

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The creamy dressing will start to smell like feet sooner or later. Please, spare us.

9

Endless bag of chips

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A few chips is fine. A few chips can be great! But the incessant hours of crunching that come with a super sized bag of chips can really wear on the passenger sitting at your side.